Fluid pressure actuated multiple arm pressure clamp



S. R. SMITH July 17, 1951 FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED MULTIPLE ARM PRESSURE CLAMP Filed Sept. 5, 1946 Earnuel R- Smflh.

Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED MULTIPLE ARM PRESSURE CLAMP 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improved pressure clamps and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a clamping means for different materials.

Another object is to provide a pressure clamp that is easily adaptable to the assembly of any materials and to force these materials together by the application of air, gas, liquid or any other pressure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device that may be easily applied to and removed from the material upon which it works.

The manner in which the above and other objects are effectuated will become apparent from a reading of the specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating the action of the valve means;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the pressure means;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the invention, and Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the modified form.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 5 refers to the material to be compressed or pressed together. For illustrative purposes the material 5 is shown in the drawing as a series of boards 6, such as are utilized in a bowling alley.

In order to pressure fasten the material together, the clamps l are positioned therearound. The clamps 1 each include upper and lower strapsS and respectively.

These straps are held in place by means of the corresponding forward and rearward retainers II and [2 respectively.

The foremost section of the assembly has a U-shaped member I3 and encased therein is an expandable element 14 which has a valve stem 15 extending therefrom and which protrudes through the U-shaped member 13.

On the valve stem is arranged the conventional valve head 20.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The material 5, to be pressure clamped is arranged in proper order and then the U-member l3, with the expandable element l4 therein is clamped against one end of the material.

When pressure of any sort, such as air, gas or other fluid is applied, the expansion of the expandable element l4 will force the boards 6 together.

A further form of the invention is shown in Figure 5, wherein a plate I311 extending the length of the device, is employed instead of the channelled member l3 and U-shaped straps So having their ends secured to the upper and lower edges of the strip 13a. embrace the boards 6, as in the manner shown in Figure 5. Interposed between the plate or strip I31 and the adjacent piece of material or board 6 is the expansible element Ma having a valve stem [5a at one end thereof. This modified device can be used on standard loads of predetermined size. The purpose in having the valve stem [Ed at one end is to promote accessibility.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the various changes may be made while keeping within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A clamp comprising a plurality of separable clamping frames, each frame comprising upper and lower strap members having a crosshead at each end thereof and a pair of retaining members engaging end portions of the strap members and each bearing against the crossheads disposed at corresponding ends of the strap members, said retaining members each being substantially U-shaped and defining a slot opening outwardly of an end of the retaining member and accommodating portions of the two strap members, said clamping frames being adapted to receive a plurality of elements to be pressed together, an elongated channel member extending transversely through the clamping frames and disposed between the retaining members at corresponding ends of the clamping frames and the element disposed adjacent thereto, said channel member having an open side facing toward the adjacent element, and an elongated inflatable tube disposed in the channel member and engaging against the element disposed adjacent thereto for clamping the elements between the tube, when inflated, and the retaining members of the clamping frames which are disposed remote from the channel member.

SAMUEL R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 488,546 Doddrell Dec. 27, 1892 495,054 Palmer Apr. 11, 1893 497,550 Russell May 16, 1893 689,061 Bromm Dec. 17, 1901 696,821 Huber Apr. 1, 1902 1,048,519 Fuhs Dec. 31, 1912 1,312,615 Cooper Aug. 12, 1919 1,784,544 Russell Dec. 9, 1930 1,827,258 Payzant Oct. 13, 1931 

